Parents' Guide to Polityka

Polish director Patryk Vega's movie takes more potshots at the political system than a local pool tournament. Whether it's politicians stabbing each other in the back -- metaphorically -- or the Church dictating proceedings from the shadows, no one comes out unscathed. The movie has been criticized for it's political bias; supporters of the country's current governing party, PiS, in particular have been very vocal. While it's true that the "fictionalized" version of the government certainly resembles PiS and that they are very much at the heart of Vega's wrath, Polityka appears to be taking aim at the system as a whole. The overriding message is that power corrupts, and all involved are not just part of the problem, they are the problem.

Vega has managed to recruit some of Poland's finest actors. Andrzej Grabowski, in particular, as the Chairman -- who may or may not be a secret homosexual -- is impressive whenever he's on-screen. However, the extras -- particularly in the protest scenes -- appear to lack any direction, a criticism that must fall at Vega's door. The use of the aftermath of a rape as a means of showing how far the political and religious classes are willing to go in order to achieve their ambitions, while succeeding in making its point, also leaves an uneasy feeling.